Peace is Flowing Like a River

This is a gentle folk-style song about peace.  It may have been intended as a children's hymn, but is now used among all age-groups.

The original writer and composer are unknown.

It was included in the 20th Century Folk Hymnal Volume 2 published in 1975/76, with the lyrics and tune credited to "anonymous".

American musician, songwriter and at-the-time Roman Catholic priest Carey Landry (b 1944)  published a musical accompaniment to it in "I Will Not Forget You" in 1975, North American Liturgy Resources.   This credits the tune as traditional, and the words to both traditional and adaptation from Psalm 107.  This psalm, says in verses 33-34
"He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste"
Also Isaiah 48:18 says
"... your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea."

The 1988 Rise Up Singing publication notes that the song was on "River Of Light", a recording made by Linda Worster and Patricia McKernon in 1983 - but does not explore any recordings or publications before that.

The publications from the 1970s did not include the chorus - this origin of this is also unknown.   Recordings on YouTube suggest that it is better known in the UK than the USA.   It can be used as desired in between verses.   Also, additional verses can be added as required  -  the most common ones are shown below.



Downloads

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Examples

Singer self accompanied on guitar, doing a cover of the Carey Landry verison - no chorus:


Trio with guitar accompaniment, professional recording - no chorus:



Duet with guitar, home recording, no chorus:



Church choir with organ and handbell interlude - no chorus:



Instrumental - organ, with chorus:



Singer with piano accompaniment, including chorus:



Church choir and congregation, piano accompaniment:


Lyrics

Peace is flowing like a river,
Flowing out through you and me,
Spreading out into the desert,
Setting all the captives free.

Chorus:
Let it flow through me,
Let it flow through me,
Let the mighty peace of God
Flow out through me.
Let it flow through me,
Let it flow through me,
Let the mighty peace of God
Flow out through me.

Love is flowing like a river ...

Joy is flowing like a river ...

Faith is flowing like a river,

Hope is flowing like a river ...

His healing's flowing like a river ...

Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia.

ABC Notation

About ABC notation

X:1
T:Peace is Flowing Like a River
C:Words and tune - unknown, pre 1975
Z:abc-transcription www.GodSongs.net
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:D
"D"F3 E DA, DE | F3-E  "Bm"D4    | "A"E3 D   CA, DE | "D"F3-E D4 |
w:Peace sis flow-ing like a river,__ flow-ing out through you and me,__
"D"F3 E DA, DE | F3-E  "Bm"D4    | "A"E3 D   CA, FE | "D"D6 dc |
w:Spread-ing out in-to the desert,__ sett-ing all the cap-tives free. Let it
"G"B2 G2 B2 dc | "D"A2 F2 "Bm7"A2 BA | "Em"GF GF "A"E2  AG  | "D"F2 "Em"G2 "D"A2 dc |
w:flow through me, let it flow through me, let the migh-ty peace of God flow_ out through me.  Let it
"G"B2 G2 B2 dc | "D"A2 F2 "Bm7"A2 BA | "Em"GF GF "A"E2  AG  | "D"F2 E2 D4    |]
w:flow through me, let it flow through me, let the migh-ty peace of God  flow_ out through me.

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